Four past members of Uxbridge council, all who ended their service in 2006, were given severance funds last year. Former mayor Gerri Lynn O'Connor, who stepped down after serving as head of Uxbridge council for 21 years, received $72,332 in post-service funds. Former regional councillor Susan Self, who served Uxbridge for 18 years and was ousted from office by Bob Shepherd in her bid to become mayor, collected $5,586.88. Bev Beach, also an 18-year veteran of council, collected $7,451.64 and Kathy Wasylenky, who served two terms, was given $9,913, according to Treasurer Al Shultz. Mr. Shultz previously explained councillors who have served two terms or more are entitled to severance of one month per year of service up to a maximum of 24 months.

"We set up (severance pay) on an annual basis... it's not like we have to find the money when the councillors retire," noted Mr. Shultz.

The Region also pays out severance funds to former councillors. Ms. Self received $53,026.25 in severance pay and Ms. O'Connor received $72,631.50 from Region coffers last year.

A report detailing local councillor salaries and expenses was released by Uxbridge's treasurer recently. The report does not include an approved 2.25-per cent retroactive salary hike for all councillors in 2007, totalling about $3,400 which will be reflected in next year's expense report, noted Mr. Shultz.

This is what your councillors made in 2007:

Bob Shepherd: pay/remuneration $39,830.42, car allowance $7,740, conferences/seminars/meetings $811.20, fundraisers $1,035, other expenses $989.78 totalling $50,406.40; Howie Herrema: pay/remuneration $28,589.61, car allowance $2,400, conferences/seminars/meetings $55.28, fundraisers $115, other expenses $295.95 totalling $31,455.84; Jack Ballinger: pay/remuneration $26,826.21, car allowance $3,180, conferences/seminars/meetings 0, fundraisers 0, other expenses $1,271.82 totalling $31,278.03; Ted Eng: pay/remuneration $25,088.37, car allowance $2,400, conferences/seminars/meetings 0, fundraisers $115, other expenses $1,237.80 totalling $28,841.17; Gordon Highet: pay/remuneration $22,309.04, car allowance $2,400, conferences/seminars/meetings 0, fundraisers $115, other expenses $1,035.82 totalling $25,859.86; Pat Mikuse: pay/remuneration $24,131.34, car allowance $2,400, conferences/seminars/meetings $35, fundraisers $290, other expenses $1,275.60 totalling $28,131.94; Bev Northeast: pay/remuneration $24,793.40, car allowance, $2,400, conferences/seminars/meetings 0, fundraisers 0, other expenses $1,200 totalling $28,393.40.

Payouts to all Durham Region councillors amounted to $1.4 million in 2007.

Regional remuneration to Uxbridge councillors is:

Bob Shepherd: salary $43,201.71, mileage $1,311.79, conferences/conventions/meetings $4,447.72 totalling $48,961.22; Howie Herrema: salary $43,201.71, mileage $1,453.34, conferences/conventions/meetings $1,318.93 totalling $45,973.98.

Councillor Herrema also accrued $5,711.70 in travel costs for a trip to Europe last year to learn about Energy From Waste technology relating to the proposed Durham incinerator. Regional Chairman Roger Anderson earned $163,196.61.

- with files from Reka Szekely